What Happens in the Grave of the Backbiter

On the night of the Mi'raj, the Prophet ﷺ saw some people scratching their own faces and chests with copper nails. Jibril (peace be upon him) told him who they were.

How the Scene Unfolds

On the night of the Mi'raj, the Prophet ﷺ passed by a group whose nails were made of copper. They were scratching their own faces and chests.

He asked, "O Jibril, who are these?" The answer came: "These are those who used to eat people's flesh and violate people's honor."

And when passing by two graves, he said: "These two are being punished; one did not protect himself from urine, and the other used to eat people's flesh."

The gathering begins with ordinary talk; it ends with someone's name, someone's faults, someone's mockery. Meanwhile the account keeps piling up in another ledger.

The Shaykh's Answer

Backbiting means saying something about your brother that he would dislike to hear. Even if it is true, it is still backbiting.

Someone said, "But I am only saying what is there." The Prophet ﷺ said: if you say what is in him, you have backbitten him, and if you say what is not in him, you have slandered him. The Shaykh says that backbiting can concern the body, the religion, worldly habits, and lineage.

On the Day of Judgment, the person who comes with prayer, fasting and zakat has his good deeds given away until they run out, and then the sins of others are placed on his neck. The Shaykh says: this is the truly bankrupt one. (Sahih Muslim)

The Evidence: The Flesh of the Dead Brother

وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًۭا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is Accepting of Repentance and Merciful. (Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:12 — Saheeh International; meaning of the complete verse)Copy

Once Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) gestured with her hand to refer to the height of Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet ﷺ said: "You have said a word that, if it were mixed with the water of the sea, would make it murky."

What to Do

1. When someone's name comes up in a gathering, stop it, or else get up and leave — staying silent is also taking part.
2. If you must advise, do it in private — advising in public is a kind of humiliation.
3. Cover your brother's faults, do not publicize them — his honor is a trust with you.
4. Think before you open your mouth — speak good, or stay silent.

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Source: Based on the talk of Shaykh Waheed Abdussalam Bali

Translation and compilation: Raqi Faisal Ahmed Sabit — Al Qur'an Ruqyah Healing Center